One traditional image of springtime is the family all out cutting the lawn together. One mows, one rakes, the others bag the clippings in black plastic and toss it to the curb. However, such a process is not necessary to keep the lawn healthy and appealing. Bagging up grass takes a lot of time, creates waste from both the clippings and the plastic bags, and does the lawn a disservice.
By grass cycling or returning the grass clippings to the earth, the gardener is doing their part to keep the lawn in top condition while protecting the planet. Common myths about grasscycling are incorrect; this process is wholly beneficial for the garden and the future.
Myths About Grasscycling
Many people think grasscycling is messy and unsightly. In actual fact, the earth will absorb the grass clippings within a day or two. If one mows the lawn when it's dry and during the late afternoon or early evening, then by the morning, the clippings will be dessicated enough that they won't be tracked everywhere.
Gardeners often worry about grassclippings creating thatch on the lawn. In fact, thatch is caused by improper watering and fertilizing. Thatch is the abnormally fast growth of roots, not the result of leaving grass clippings on the lawn.
Diseases are also not spread by leaving grass clippings rather than bagging them. The lawn will resist disease more effectively by absorbing the nutrients present in the leftover grass. Cutting the lawn gradually and only watering a tiny amount in the morning when absolutely necessary will reduce the risk of disease.
How Grasscycling Helps the Gardener and the Earth
The best way to cut the lawn is with a handmower. Unlike power mowers, the hand mower doesn't use gas, rarely needs repairs and stays sharp a long time. Also, it doesn't cut the grass so low that it damages the lawn. Using a hand mower, cut the grass regularly but in increments rather than all at once. Leave the grassclippings on the lawn instead of bagging.
The leftover grass releases nutrients into the earth, like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, encouraging earthworms and creating water-absorbent mulch. There's no poisonous run-off and plastic bags full of grass aren't sent to the dump to become waste. This saves the taxes that are spent establishing more landfills.
Grasscycling also saves time. With no bagging the gardener can just cut, trim and take a break. Much easier on the back, grasscycling also saves money on bags. There are so many simple things to do, like grasscycling, in which everyone comes out a winner!
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